TTC 2017 Final Arrangements

Less than a week to go before the big weekend up the Trossachs! So a few final details.

1. THE VENUE IS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR  (BUT DIFFERENT TO EARLIER YEARS FOR THOSE WHO MISSED LAST YEAR)! We are staying in the Leny Estate Log Cabins. The entrance to Leny Estate is on the main road (A84) between Callander and Kilmahog about 150m before the first of the woolen mills (the one with the highland cows in the field for the tourists). The estate entrance is on the right hand side as you head towards Kilmahog from Callander and is totally hidden. You don't see it until you are at it as it is located on a slight kink in the road to the right. A white cottage marks the entrance to the estate. Here is a link to a map showing the entrance to the estate:
Leny Estate from Callander

This is a dangerous entrance on a busy main road. Drive slowly out of Callander so as not to miss it. The cabins are at the end of the drive which is about a half mile long and uphill (nice start/end to all the runs! Think positive).

2. Do not arrive before 4pm on Friday afternoon. There are no permanent staff or reception at Leny Estate. I have to pick up all the keys for the cabins from the estate manager earlier in the day and will be there at 4pm onwards to allocate rooms and keys. So look for me. If you are early, there are plenty of places to stretch the legs with a gentle walk or to have a relaxing coffee in Callander.

3. We have managed to squeeze everyone in who wanted to go to the TTC. This has been a bit of a jigsaw puzzle fitting people in to each cabin (couples in double rooms, others in twin rooms and one person per cabin on a very large sofa bed). I have a plan! You need to see me to find out exactly which cabin and which bed in each cabin you have been allocated.

4. The cabins are somewhat more luxurious and better equipped than our previous venue. Unfortunately, unlike previous years, I have a long list of terms and conditions and payment penalties to adhere to. Don't remove or move anything between cabins and be careful not to damage anything otherwise we will be charged. This is particularly true of the crockery and cutlery. The lunch caterers will bring their own plates and cutlery. Please be careful not to mix any of that up with those belonging to the cabins.

5. The estate owners have installed a new timber children's playground (swings, slides, etc) over the summer. Please, no adults on any of that equipment. I hate to think what we would be charged if we damage anything there.

6. Safety. All of our runs and walks to/from the Lade Inn will involve crossing the A84 at the estate entrance to join the footpath on the other side of the road. You have to cross this road 3 times just to get to the Lade Inn and to start all of our runs. This is a very busy road. Please always use the footpaths and be extremely careful crossing the road especially given that the estate entrance is on a blind bend.

7. We are a month later than usual and hence will have less time to complete the Friday evening run before darkness falls. The routes have been chosen accordingly, however please be ready to run at 5pm on the Friday evening. If you are going to be late arriving, please give me a call (07867863741). For the safety of all, we can't really delay the start too long but will try our best. Please don't take any risks to get there on time if you are late. Its only a run! Dinner is booked for 7:30pm at the Lade Inn.

7. What to bring:

• Any special medication you need (and let your room mates and pack leader know where and what it is).
• Running gear for 4 or 5 separate sessions over the weekend. If its wet, you will need more gear. Check the forecast. Maybe bring some old newspaper to put in your running shoes overnight on the off chance (!) it is raining. The last few weeks have been very wet and there are large puddles on some of the trails which may not have dried out by next weekend.
• All of the runs are on a mixture of trail and tarmac. I would say that road shoes are fine on all of the routes but some of you may also wish to bring trail shoes if you have them and are comfortable running 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8km) on tarmac in them.
• We don't have a communal hall for indoor sessions at this venue. However, weather dependent, we will be doing some outdoor core and stretching routines. Please bring a yoga mat or beach towel to put on the grass for these sessions. Do not use the towels from the cabins for this (see point 4 above).
• The cabins do have towels in the bathrooms but you may wish to bring your own extra towels given the number of sessions and showers (hopefully) we will be having.
• One of the cabins will be set aside as the main breakfast area. We have bought a selection of the basic cereals, porridge, bread, milk, marmalade, etc which will be available for you to come and prepare your breakfast and have either there or back in your own cabin. If you have any very special breakfast preferences, then please bring that yourself. Referring to point 4 again, please keep the cutlery, dishes etc in the cabin to which it belongs.
• The water from the taps is beautiful Trossachs water so is fine to drink. If you think you need any special gels for the runs, then please bring your own. We will be doing 5 to 8 miles on Friday, 7 to 10 miles on Saturday morning, 3 to 5 miles on Saturday afternoon and 8 to 17 miles on Sunday morning. You shouldn't really need gels during any of these runs except perhaps the longest route on the Sunday.
• Everyone has made their menu choices for dinner and they have been submitted to the Lade Inn. A printed list will be available on each of the dinner nights for those (like me) who can't remember what they ordered.
• Buffet lunches are provided as usual. As with the breakfasts, the buffet will be set up outside or inside one of the cabins for you to help yourself. The caterers will bring their own cutlery and dishes so please do not mix up with that which belongs to the cabins.
• We are bringing communal tea, coffee, milk and biscuits.
• Further information will be given out prior to each run and if there are any further updates, they will be added to this blog post through the week. If you have any questions, then ask me or put a comment on this blog post.

This is going to be a great weekend, so be prepared to enjoy yourself!
Alan